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Abstract:

Embodiments of the present invention disclose a stylus and stylus holder
for a computing device. According to one embodiment, the stylus holder
includes a connector configured to attach to a port of the computing
device for establishing an electrical connection therewith. The stylus
holder further includes a fastener for facilitating attachment with the
stylus while also providing at least one of data and power to said
stylus.

Claims:

1. A stylus holder comprising: a connector configured to attach to a port
of a computing device and create an electrical connection to the
computing device port; and a fastener to attach a stylus to the holder
and provide at least one of a data and power connection to the stylus.

2. The stylus holder of claim 1, wherein the fastener includes a first
inductive element formed in an internal cavity area of the fastener.

3. The stylus holder of claim 2, wherein the stylus includes a second
inductive element formed within the stylus and configured to inductively
couple with the first inductive element of the fastener when the stylus
is placed in near physical contact with the fastener.

4. The stylus holder of claim 3, wherein inductive coupling between the
stylus and the fastener enables the transfer of both data and power
to/from the stylus and the computing device.

5. The stylus holder of claim 1, wherein the fastener is a flexible pen
clip.

6. The stylus holder of claim 1, wherein the fastener is shaped to hold
only a portion of the stylus.

7. The stylus holder of claim 1, wherein the computing device includes
software configured to provide a notification when the stylus holder is
removed from the port.

8. The stylus holder of claim 1, wherein the connector is a Universal
Serial Bus (USB) plug for connecting with a USB port of the computing
device.

9. A stylus assembly for a computing device, the apparatus comprising: a
stylus; a stylus dip haying a fastening portion configured to hold the
stylus in a fixed position and a connector portion configured to connect
to a port of a computing device for providing at least one of a data and
power connection to the stylus via electrical communication with said
port.

10. The assembly of claim 9, wherein the fastening portion includes a
first inductive element formed within an internal cavity area thereof.

11. The assembly of claim 10, wherein the stylus includes a second
inductive element formed within the stylus and configured to inductively
couple with the first inductive element of the fastener when the stylus
is placed in near physical contact with the fastening portion of the
stylus clip.

12. The assembly of claim 11, wherein inductive coupling between the
stylus and the fastening portion enables the transfer of both data and
power to/from the stylus and the computing device.

13. The assembly of claim 9, wherein the fastening portion is a flexible
pen clip.

14. The assembly of claim 9, wherein the fastening portion is shaped to
hold only a portion of the stylus.

15. The assembly of claim 9, wherein the connecting portion is a
Universal Serial Bus (USB) plug for connecting with a USB port of the
computing device.

16. A clip device for holding a stylus, the clip device comprising: a
connector configured to attach to a port of a computing device and create
an electrical connection to the computing device port; and a fastener to
hold the stylus in a fixed position when attached to the fastener,
wherein the fastener includes a first inductive element formed in an
internal cavity area thereof, and wherein the stylus includes a second
inductive element formed therein and configured to inductively couple
with the first inductive element of the fastener when the stylus is
placed in near physical contact with the fastener, wherein inductive
coupling between the stylus and the fastener enables the transfer of at
least one of data and power between the stylus and the computing device.

17. The clip device of claim 16, wherein inductive coupling between the
stylus and the fastener enables the transfer of both data and power
to/from the stylus and the computing device

18. The clip device of claim 16, wherein the fastener is shaped to hold
only a portion of the stylus.

19. The clip device of claim 16, wherein the computing device includes
software configured to provide a notification when the clip device is
removed from the port.

20. The clip device of claim 16, wherein the connector is a Universal
Serial Bus (USB) plug for connecting with a USB port of the computing
device.

Description:

BACKGROUND

[0001] Providing efficient and intuitive interaction between a computer
system and users thereof is essential for delivering an engaging and
enjoyable user-experience. Today, most computer systems include a
keyboard for allowing a user to manually input information into the
computer system, and a mouse for selecting or highlighting items shown on
the display. As computer systems have grown in popularity, however,
alternate input systems have been developed. For example, stylus input
systems provide a natural user interlace to computer systems by enabling
a specific point on the display screen to be selected or identified when
the user physically touches the display with a pen-like device or stylus.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0002] The features and advantages of the inventions as well as additional
features and advantages thereof will be more clearly understood
hereinafter as a result of a detailed description of particular
embodiments of the invention when taken in conjunction with the following
drawings in which:

[0003] FIG. 1 is a three-dimensional perspective view of a stylus assembly
for inductive coupling according to an example of the present invention.

[0004] FIG. 2A is a simplified illustration of the stylus clip and first
inductive element, while FIG. 2B is a simplified illustration of the
stylus and second inductive element according to an example of the
present invention.

[0005] FIGS. 3A and 3B are three-dimensional perspective views of a
computing device for use with a stylus and holder device according to an
example of the present invention.

[0006] FIG. 4A is a top down view of a computing device and stylus holder
assembly, while FIG. 4B is a side profile view of the computing device
connected with the stylus holder assembly according to an example of the
present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The following discussion is directed to various embodiments.
Although one or more of these embodiments may be discussed in detail, the
embodiments disclosed should not be interpreted, or otherwise used, as
limiting the scope of the disclosure, including the claims. In addition,
one skilled in the art will understand that the following description has
broad application, and the discussion of any embodiment is meant only to
be an example of that embodiment, and not intended to intimate that the
scope of the disclosure, including the claims, is limited to that
embodiment. Furthermore, as used herein, the designators "A", "B" and "N"
particularly with respect to the reference numerals in the drawings,
indicate that a number of the particular feature so designated can be
included with examples of the present disclosure. The designators can
represent the same or different numbers of the particular features.

[0008] The figures herein follow a numbering convention in which the first
digit or digits correspond to the drawing figure number and the remaining
digits identify an element or component in the drawing. Similar elements
or components between different figures may be identified by the user of
similar digits. For example, 143 may reference element "43" in FIG. 1,
and a similar element may be referenced as 243 in FIG. 2. Elements shown
in the various figures herein can be added, exchanged, and/or eliminated
so as to provide a number of additional examples of the present
disclosure. In addition, the proportion and the relative scale of the
elements provided in the figures are intended to illustrate the examples
of the present disclosure, and should not be taken in a limiting sense.

[0009] Generally, a stylus falls into two disparate categories: 1) an
inexpensive pen-shaped stylus (passive stylus) that lacks electrical
components and simply acts as a selection mechanism in the same way as a
user's fingers, and 2) a high-tech or active stylus that includes several
electrical components for providing additional functionality. The latter
category of styli requires battery power, which can make the stylus bulky
and heavy. Moreover, the use of stand-alone batteries is often
troublesome for the operating user through continuous changing of the
batteries while also contributing to environmental waste. Prior solutions
include a stylus "garage" formed on the computing device for housing and
charging the stylus. However, such designs lead to additional and bulky
hardware on the computing device. A tethered stylus is an analog solution
which uses a tether and attachment feature for maintaining a physical
connection of the stylus with the computing device. However, management
of the tether is often burdensome for the user (e.g., wraps around other
items) and in the event the user loses the tether attachment feature, the
rope and the stylus essentially hang listlessly in the air.

[0010] Examples of the present invention disclose a pen stylus and holder
device associated therewith for use with a computing device. According to
one example, the holder device includes a connecting portion for
insertion into a corresponding port on a computing device in addition to
a fastening portion for holding the stylus in a fixed position.
Furthermore, the stylus includes an inductive element for facilitating
inductive coupling with an inductive element formed on the fastening
portion of the holder device. As a result, the present example
embodiments provide a user-friendly and compact stylus assembly that
enables communication and recharging of the stylus with any powered
computing device having a corresponding input/output port.

[0011] Referring now in more detail to the drawings in which like numerals
identify corresponding parts throughout the views, FIG. 1 is a
three-dimensional perspective view of a stylus assembly for inductive
coupling according to an example of the present invention. As shown here,
the stylus assembly 100 includes a stylus 120 and a stylus holder device
110. The holder device 110 includes a fastener 112 and a connector 118
for insertion into a compatible port of a computing device. According to
one example, the fastener 112 represents a flexible pen clip, C-clip or
similar fastening element configured to hold the stylus 120 in a fixed
position when positioned therein. The fastener 112 includes an inductive
charging element 113 formed therein (or along an inner surface thereof)
representing an inductive coil or similar device configured to generate
an electromagnetic field for transferring energy (e.g., low-power
charging) with a corresponding inductive element (e.g., inductive element
123). Stylus 120 represents a pen-shaped tool for facilitating user input
on a touch- based computing device and includes an outer housing 122 and
inner inductive element 123. More specifically, the inductive charging
element 123 is formed within the housing 122 and represents an inductive
coil or similar device that corresponds with inductive element 113
associated with the stylus holder device 110 for providing low-power
inductive charging for example. According to one example, the inductive
element 123 of the stylus 120 may be elongated to substantially cover the
length of the stylus housing 122 such that the fastener 112 of the holder
device 110 may be attached at various positions along the stylus housing
122 and still provide inductive coupling therewith.

[0012] FIG. 2A is a simplified illustration of the stylus clip and first
inductive element, while FIG. 2B is a simplified illustration of the
stylus and second inductive element according to an example of the
present invention. As shown in FIG. 2A, the stylus holder 210 includes a
fastening portion 212 and a joining portion 216 that attaches a connector
portion 218 with the fastening portion 212. The fastening portion 212 is
configured to hold a pen-shaped stylus and includes an inductive element
213 that corresponds with an inductive element 223 of the stylus 220 of
FIG. 2B. The inductive element 213 may be formed along an inner surface
214 of the fastening portion 212, within the fastening portion 212 as
shown, or represent the entire fastening portion 212. The connector
portion 218 includes a connector plug 218' comprising of electrical
contacts configured to engage with corresponding electrical contacts of a
port 207 of a computing device 205 According to one example, the
connector plug 218' represents a Universal Service Bus (USB) connector
plug configured to mate with a corresponding USB port of a computing
device. However, the connector plug 218' may be a Micro or Mini USB
connector/plug, IEEE 1394 interface connector/plug, or any other
communications protocol capable of providing communication and/or power
between two connected electronic devices. As a result, when the user
clips the stylus 220 into the fastener 212 of the stylus holder 210, the
stylus 220 can be inductively charged through power provided by the
connected port 207 (e.g., USB) of the computing device 205 via plus 218'
of the stylus holder 210. Moreover, the inductive elements 213 223 of the
stylus holder 210 and stylus 220 respectively, may include a coil that
serves as a wireless antenna for transferring both data (e.g., via near
field communication, radio frequency, or similar wireless communication
protocol) and power to/from the stylus holder 210.

[0013] Still further, the stylus holder 210 may include a memory module
219 for data storage and a processing unit 217 for communicating with
software 209 of the computing device 205. In the event the stylus holder
210 is accidently removed from the I/O port 207 of the computing device
205, software 209 running on the computing device 205 can detect the
removal and provide a notification to the user. For example, the software
209 may be configured to wake up the computing device from a sleep state,
sound an alarm or audible noise, or cause an associated display screen to
display a visual warning. Thus, the user is immediately aware of the
removal and absence of the stylus holder 210 from a connective state with
the computing device 205.

[0014] FIGS. 3A and 3B are three-dimensional perspective views of a
computing device for use with a stylus and holder device according to an
example of the present invention. FIG. 3A depicts a computing device 305
having at least one input/output port 307 such as USB port or similar
input interface. As explained above, the stylus clip 310 and connector
portion thereof is configured to attach to the port 307 of the computing
device 305. The stylus clip 310 is also configured to provide a fastening
means for holding the stylus 320 in a fixed position. More particularly,
and as indicated by the directional arrows of FIG. 3A, the stylus 320 is
inserted into the fasting portion of the stylus clip 310, which is
inserted into the port 307 of the computing device 305. FIG. 3B depicts
the stylus assembly 300 (stylus clip 310 and stylus 320) in an assembled
state in which a portion of the stylus 320 is in physical contact with
the fastening portion of the stylus clip 310. For example, the fastener
of the stylus clip 310 may formed to be no more than one inch in width so
as provide a secure grip on the stylus 320 while still maintaining a
compact form factor. When in the assembled or contact state, the stylus
320 and stylus clip 310 are inductively coupled via the inductive
coupling elements associated with both stylus 320 and stylus clip 310. As
such, electrical communication is established between all devices such
that data and/or power may be exchanged between the computing device 305,
stylus clip 310, and stylus 320.

[0015] FIG. 4A is a top down view of a computing device and stylus holder
assembly, while FIG. 4B is a side profile view of the computing device
connected with the stylus holder assembly according to an example of the
present invention. As shown in FIG. 4A, the stylus assembly 400, which
includes the stylus holder 410 and pen-shaped stylus 420, is in an
assembled and connected state with the computing device 405.
Specifically, the connector portion 418 of the stylus holder 410 is
inserted into a port 407 of the computing device 405 for enabling
electrical communication between stylus holder 410 and the computing
device 405. According to one example, the stylus 420 is positioned within
the stylus holder 410 such that the elongated side of the stylus 420 runs
parallel with the adjacent side of the computing device 405. Moreover,
the stylus holder 410 is shaped to only hold a portion of the stylus 420
rather than encase the entire housing of the stylus as in previous
solutions. Referring now to FIG. 4B, the fastening portion of the stylus
holder 410 is formed in a C-shape so as to allow easy removal and
insertion of the pen stylus 420 from the inner cavity thereof while still
providing a secure and reliable grip on the housing surface of the stylus
420.

[0016] Embodiments of the present invention provide an inductive stylus
assembly for use with a computing device. Moreover, many advantages are
afforded by the stylus assembly in accordance with embodiments of the
present invention. For instance, the present examples utilize standard
features and functionality of existing computing devices to charge and
communicate with the pen stylus while also eliminating the use of visible
tethers utilized in previous solutions. Furthermore, inductive coupling
provides a stress-free charging environment so that users no longer need
to carry an additional charging unit or remove/replace batteries when the
power of the pen stylus depletes. In addition, embodiments in accordance
with examples described above also provide the stylus with a storage
location relative to the computing device while simultaneously charging
the stylus.

[0017] Furthermore, while the invention has been described with respect to
exemplary embodiments, one skilled in the art will recognize that
numerous modifications are possible. For example, although exemplary
embodiments depict a notebook computer as the portable computing device,
the invention is not limited thereto. For example, the computing device
may be a netbook, a tablet personal computer, a smart phone, or any other
computing device having compatible input ports and communicative/powering
functionality.

[0018] Furthermore, the stylus clip and fastening portion may be formed in
any shape that allows for easy insertion and removal of the stylus from
the fastening portion rather than the C-shape clip element as depicted
and described above. Thus, although the invention has been described with
respect to exemplary embodiments, it will be appreciated that the
invention is intended to cover all modifications and equivalents within
the scope of the following claims.